According to a senior official, many Cameroonian women are still victims of female genital mutilation (FGM), and it is necessary to step up efforts to combat this practice. The Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Marie-Therese Abena Ondoa, stated during a press conference in the capital, Yaounde, that “Mutilations exist and we must come together to eliminate them because it is an atrocious practice which has no justification and rather causes harmful consequences on the life of the woman.”
Ondoa also emphasized Cameroon’s commitment to fighting FGM, stating that the country is actively involved in the global fight and is taking concrete actions by implementing political measures, establishing a legal framework, and providing support to civil society organizations. The Ministry for the Promotion of Women and the Family’s official statistics indicate that the phenomenon affects 1.4 percent of the population nationally and 20 percent in specific focus areas.
The International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM is observed worldwide on February 6 as part of the United Nations’ efforts to eradicate FGM, an ancient cultural practice that is still prevalent in certain parts of Africa.
